ZAP: DCP Launches New and Improved Digital Land Use Portal

 

For the first time, New Yorkers have direct and easy access to newly-filed applications online; and land use applicants can file and pay digitally.

 Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Marisa Lago today announced that the newly expanded and improved Zoning Application Portal (ZAP) allows New Yorkers to review and download land use applications currently in public review, including all related environmental review filings.

“Remember when you had to trek down to DCP’s offices or your local Community Board to review land use applications? Not anymore! ZAP is an intuitive, map-based website that lets all New Yorkers easily explore land use applications and their supporting documents. Having these documents available online means that elected officials, Community Boards and all members of the public can more easily access and digest the details of a land use proposal. ZAP brings added efficiency and transparency to the City’s planning work but, even more importantly, gives the public another tool to engage more fully in our public review process,” said DCP Director Marisa Lago.

This new ZAP ensures that the public has easy access to land use applications, drawings and project descriptions that were previously only available on paper, and through local Community Board offices. It also gives the public the opportunity to easily see all the details of an application before a public hearing. While these documents were previously shared with Community Boards, Borough Presidents and the City Council, now the public can type in any address and see active projects and adopted projects in their neighborhood, or even within 200, 400 or 1,000 feet of their home or their child’s school, for example.

Director Lago also announced a separate webpage where applicants for zoning changes can submit and pay for their land use applications online – a process that previously required making up to 15 copies of each application and a physical visit to the DCP offices to submit. Through the portal, applicants can see their submission status, along with a clear timeline of previous and next steps. This new, greener and more streamlined process for applicants will also allow the public to see applications filed in real time.

By Spring 2021, all active, filed projects will have all required supporting materials publicly available online.

“Technology always plays a huge role in making government work. In our city, it has to happen in a New York minute,” said Moses Gates, Vice President for Housing and Neighborhood Planning, Regional Plan Association. “We applaud NYC DCP for making this critical land use information easily available and for streamlining the online application process. This is a big step in making sure New York City continues to be a leader in civic technology and transparency.”

DCP is also initiating a work program to gradually make historical applications and project materials available online.

ZAP is an important addition to the DCP technology portfolio and is part of DCP’s commitment toward increased transparency and more accessibility for the public through well-designed, open source, web-based tools, including:

• ZoLa, which provide zoning districts and associated information for any lot in the City
• Population Factfinder, which provides any New Yorker the ability to quickly understand the demographics of any part of the five boroughs, and a range of deeper research options
• Community District Profiles, which provide a robust, intuitive graphical overview of each of our 59 Community Districts, and handy comparison charts
• Facilities Explorer, which provides an intuitive interface to explore where all City or State facilities lie within New York City, and who they serve

Department of City Planning

The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the strategic growth and development of the City through ground-up planning with communities, the development of land use policies and zoning regulations applicable citywide, and its contribution to the preparation of the City’s 10-year Capital Strategy. DCP promotes housing production and affordability, fosters economic development and coordinated investments in infrastructure and services, and supports resilient, sustainable communities across the five boroughs for a more equitable New York City.

In addition, DCP supports the City Planning Commission in its annual review of approximately 450 land use applications for a variety of discretionary approvals. The Department also assists both government agencies and the public by advising on strategic and capital planning and providing policy analysis, technical assistance and data relating to housing, transportation, community facilities, demography, zoning, urban design, waterfront areas and public open space.